Biological control strategy with Poecilia reticulata for the reduction of Aedes spp. and Culex sp. in urban stormwater drains: Experience at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.

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Title:	Biological control strategy with Poecilia reticulata for the reduction of Aedes spp. and Culex sp. in urban stormwater drains: Experience at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
Alternate Title:	Estrategia de control biológico con Poecilia reticulata para la reducción de Aedes spp. y Culex sp. en desagües pluviales urbanos: experiencia en la Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
Authors:	Velásquez, Olga Lucía¹, Guzmán, Gissel², Cuéllar, Olga Lucía¹, Piedrahita, Madelaine¹, Reina, Carlos Alberto³ carlos.reina@udea.edu.co
Source:	Biomédica: Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud. sep2026, Vol. 46 Issue 3, p409-420. 12p.
Subjects:	Guppies, Aedes aegypti, Culex, Larvae, Storm drains, Biological pest control agents, Habitats
Geographic Terms:	Cali (Colombia), South America, Colombia
Abstract (English):	Introduction. Dengue is one of the most significant arboviral diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Aedes aegypti as its primary vector. The elimination of breeding sites is the most effective control strategy; however, the presence of stormwater drains in urban environments poses a challenge. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of biological control using Poecilia reticulata in reducing Aedes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and Culex sp. larvae in urban stormwater drains at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a nine-month follow-up (October 2022 - June 2023). All stormwater drains catch basins at the University were inspected, and 12 catch basins were selected that contained Aedes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus) and Culex sp. mosquito larvae. The number of mosquito larvae by genus, water temperature, and pH were recorded weekly. The intervention involved the introduction and monitoring of P. reticulata, with reintroductions as needed. A Bayesian multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the intervention effect, adjusting for environmental factors and variability among stormwater drains. Results. The intervention group showed a trend toward lower larval presence, although it did not reach statistical significance (β = -0.90, 95% CI: -2.01 to 0.21). Water temperature was positively associated with larval presence (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.45), while pH showed a negative association (β = -1.50, 95% CI: -3.06 to -0.06), indicating reduced larval development in more alkaline water. Conclusions. Biological control with P. reticulata showed potential for reducing larval presence. Temperature and pH were key determinants of larval presence, emphasizing the need to consider environmental factors in vector control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish):	Introducción. El dengue es una de las enfermedades arbovirales más importantes en Latinoamérica y el Caribe, y Aedes aegypti es su principal vector. La eliminación de criaderos es la estrategia de control más eficaz; sin embargo, la presencia de desagües pluviales en entornos urbanos representa un reto. Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad del control biológico con Poecilia reticulata para reducir la población de larvas de Aedes (A. aegypti y A. albopictus) y Culex sp. en desagües pluviales urbanos de la Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental con un seguimiento de nueve meses (octubre de 2022 a junio de 2023). Se inspeccionaron todos los sumideros de aguas lluvias de la Universidad y se eligieron 12 sumideros que tenían larvas de mosquitos de Aedes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus) y Culex sp. Se registró semanalmente la cantidad de larvas de mosquitos por género, temperatura del agua y pH. La intervención consistió en la introducción y el monitoreo de P. reticulata, con reintroducciones según fuera necesario. Se utilizó un modelo bayesiano de regresión logística multinivel para estimar el efecto de la intervención, ajustando los factores ambientales y la variabilidad entre los desagües pluviales. Resultados. El grupo de intervención mostró una tendencia hacia una menor presencia de larvas, aunque no alcanzó la significación estadística (β = -0,90; IC95 %: -2,01 a 0,21). La temperatura del agua se asoció positivamente con la presencia de larvas ( β = 0,25; IC95%: 0,07 a 0,45), mientras que el pH mostró una asociación negativa ( β = -1,50; IC95 %: -3,06 a -0,06), lo que indica un menor desarrollo larvario en aguas más alcalinas. Conclusiones. El control biológico con P. reticulata mostró potencial para reducir la presencia de larvas. La temperatura y el pH fueron determinantes clave de la presencia de larvas, lo que subraya la necesidad de considerar los factores ambientales en las estrategias de control de vectores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	MedicLatina

Description
Abstract:	Introduction. Dengue is one of the most significant arboviral diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Aedes aegypti as its primary vector. The elimination of breeding sites is the most effective control strategy; however, the presence of stormwater drains in urban environments poses a challenge. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of biological control using Poecilia reticulata in reducing Aedes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) and Culex sp. larvae in urban stormwater drains at Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a nine-month follow-up (October 2022 - June 2023). All stormwater drains catch basins at the University were inspected, and 12 catch basins were selected that contained Aedes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus) and Culex sp. mosquito larvae. The number of mosquito larvae by genus, water temperature, and pH were recorded weekly. The intervention involved the introduction and monitoring of P. reticulata, with reintroductions as needed. A Bayesian multilevel logistic regression model was used to estimate the intervention effect, adjusting for environmental factors and variability among stormwater drains. Results. The intervention group showed a trend toward lower larval presence, although it did not reach statistical significance (β = -0.90, 95% CI: -2.01 to 0.21). Water temperature was positively associated with larval presence (β = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.45), while pH showed a negative association (β = -1.50, 95% CI: -3.06 to -0.06), indicating reduced larval development in more alkaline water. Conclusions. Biological control with P. reticulata showed potential for reducing larval presence. Temperature and pH were key determinants of larval presence, emphasizing the need to consider environmental factors in vector control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	01204157
DOI:	10.7705/biomedica.7960